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Why life gets better after age 50, for some: mental well-being and the social norm of work

Author

Listed:
  • Coen van de Kraats

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tinbergen Institute)

  • Titus Galama

    (University of Southern California, Center for Economic and Social Research and Department of Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tinbergen Institute)

  • Maarten Lindeboom

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Tinbergen Institute and IZA)

  • Zichen Deng

    (School of Economics, University of Amsterdam; FAIR Centre)

Abstract

We provide evidence that the social norm (expectation) that adults work has a substantial detrimental causal effect on the mental well-being of unemployed men in mid-life, as substantial as, e.g., the detriment of being widowed. As their peers in age retire and the social norm weakens, the mental well-being of the unemployed improves. Using data on individuals aged 50+ from 10 European countries, we identify the social norm of work effect using exogenous variation in the earliest eligibility age for old-age public pensions across countries and birth cohorts.

Suggested Citation

  • Coen van de Kraats & Titus Galama & Maarten Lindeboom & Zichen Deng, 2025. "Why life gets better after age 50, for some: mental well-being and the social norm of work," Papers 2025-04, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhe:chemon:2025-04
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental well-being; social norm of work; retirement institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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